Town of Sullivan needs income data

Supervisor John M. Becker (R,C,I -- Sullivan) issued a letter last week to residents in the proposed Bridgeport Sewer District asking for cooperation in completing income data surveys. The instruments are an effort to support and application that would provide funding for low-income families to hook into the sewers when installed.

According to Becker, residents in the proposed district will have two years from the time the project is completed to take their existing septic systems offline and switch over to the sanitary sewers.

"In efforts to secure funding for the community sewer project and its design and construction, the town is seeking your assistance," Becker wrote. "In order to be eligible for grants and low-interest loans for this project, it is important that we complete an income survey to determine the median household income."

The correspondence included a Household Characteristics Survey Form that the town asked recipients to complete and return to the Rural Community Assistance Program in Massachusetts.

"It should take only about a minute to do," Becker said. "Responses will be tabulated by an independent organization, the Rural Community Assistance Program in Massachusetts, and not by local officials. The information you provide will be kept completely confidential. Only summary results will be reported."

A high survey response rate is necessary for the effort to be valid, Becker said.

Barton & Loguidice engineer Christian Lawton urges anyone in the proposed district who did not get a survey and feels they may be low-income to call the town offices at 687-9190 to obtain one.

"Every little bit helps," Lawton said.

According to Becker, the town's median household income is about $44,000.

"On behalf of the town board, I urge your cooperation in completing the survey form," Becker wrote.

For more information about the survey process, Becker suggests residents call Dianne Perley of RCAP at (802) 598-9373. For more information on why the survey is being conducted, Becker invites residents to call his office at 697-9190.

Becker said the town is shooting for a return date of no later than Feb. 12.

Lawton announced last week that Perley would travel to Madison County the first week of February to conduct a door-to-door canvass and try to secure the surveys not returned during the first mailing in 2007.